Despite a heart-breaking loss in the game's final seconds, Emmaus will look forward to taking the next step with its program. The Hornets concluded a season in which they suffered several setbacks along the way, notably on offense where they lost two running backs that led to head coach Randy Cuthbert to practically install a new offense.

Still, Emmaus' sense of pride and determination kept it alive in the hunt for a district playoff berth in the final weeks of the regular season, and the Green Hornets managed to keep a high-powered Liberty offense within striking distance the majority of the evening in the Eastern Conference final.

Senior running back Andy Davidson, wh ran for 277 yards on 51 carries in his final high school game, landed less than two yards short of his fifth touchdown of the night in the game's final two seconds.

Davidson accounted for all of his team's opening 63-yard scoring drive and he capped it with a two-yard plunge. But Liberty quickly tied the game when quarterback Doug Erney hit Darius Jones on a 79-yard scoring strike that tied the game on their third play from scrimmage. The teams went to halftime tied at 21-21.

Defensively, Emmaus allowed Erney to throw three touchdowns passes, but also harassed and chased him inside and outside of the pocket during the game.

Davidson and his fellow seniors were appreciative of their opportunities this fall.

"We had a lot of bumps in the road," he said. "It really showed the character of these players and the coaches who brought us all together every week. We seniors were trying to start a tradition here, and I think we got off on the right track with the overall mentality and hard work."

Cuthbert saw his team mature throughout the season through the team's shortcomings of player injuries and dismissals.

"Our kids learned a lot and stuck together," he said. "At the end of the year, we ended up with a tight-knit group who all played well together. It's a credit to the kids because they kept fighting through it.

"We were in some tough spots, but we really developed an attitude to where we were competitive. We knew we had to adapt with our personnel. We were able to develop and do what we could.

"We were really, really young at the end of the year. Our young guys gained a lot of valuable experience. These playoffs were good for us. We have plenty of things to carry forward and continue to develop next season."